Who Should Govern Kashmir - Paper Sample

Introduction

After independence, India was divided into two significant states; India and Pakistan (Ahlawat and Satish 59). The other 564 states could join any independent state based on geographical contiguity and religion (Ahlawat and Satish 59). However, the Kashmir division was unique because its contiguity is shared by both India and Pakistan. Additionally, the population was made up of both Muslims and Hindus. Therefore, the leader hoped to retain it as an independent state, but this was against the Indian Independent Act (Ahmed and Anurug 21). The Kashmir Division has unique features such as glaciers and rivers. These unique features have made the state a source of conflict between India and Pakistan. Undoubtedly, the Kashmir division's governance is a complex issue of contention between India that results from several factors which, to date, has made it impossible to determine who should govern it.

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Disputes

The Jumma and Kashmir state, commonly known as Kashmir, is 222,236.2sq Kms, and it occupies 7% of India (Ahmed and Anurug 21). Approximately the area is found between 32o 15" and 37o 17", North latitudes and 72o 35" and 80o 20", East longitudes (Ahmed and Anurug 21). Based on physiography, the state is divided into four major parts; Ladakh, which includes regions under China and Pakistani, and Jumma division that is made up of Poonch, Kotti, and Mirpur, which are part of Pakistani (Ahmed and Anurug 21). The other regions are the Frontiers region and North-Western areas, which are under the Pakistani and Kashmir division (Ahmed and Anurug 21). Geographically, the division is famous globally due to its natural scenery and beauty. The division also has gained a special geopolitical status because it has contiguous boundaries with Tibet, Pakistan, China, Russia, and Afghanistan, which require regular surveillance (Raina 3). Thus, it is of great significance politically, economically, for military activities, and geographically. The area of Kashmir under disputes is shown in figure 1 below.

Undoubtedly, the governance of the Kashmir division is ‘thorny’ that has even attracted the intervention of the international community. The issue has been termed as one of the world's significant spots, and the involved nations have been advised to come up with strategies that will resolve the problem (Ahlawat and Satish 60). However, resolving these issues is challenging because the conflicts result from multiple factors. Division among different races and ethnicities within the division is a significant cause of war. The people who reside in the Kashmir division are divided into various linguistic groups, religions, and ethnicities. The majority of the people are Muslims and Hindus, and according to Ahmed and Anurug, they get confused about which state they should join (26). After independence, people who practiced Islam joined Pakistan while the Hindus joined India.

Nature of Politics

The nature of politics in India and Pakistan is another factor that causes conflict in the Kashmir division. Pakistan was created on religious bases, which is Islam. The Pakistan state was also dominated by military personnel since its creation, making it difficult for them to concede defeat. The militants view Kashmir as the best place for them to watch over their borders and maintain security. India was also created based on secular ideology, and compromising has never been a consideration for them. The valley has been experiencing political upheavals due to the emergence of resurgence Islamic movements in Afghanistan and Iran. The Iranian revolution's victory gave the people of Kashmir the confidence to defeat the Hindus within the division and overthrow the Indian hegemony. The conflicts between the Muslims and Hindus in Kashmir division are a significant cause of disunity (Ahmed and Anurug 28). The resurgence groups are working towards having some level of control in the region.

Further, both India and Pakistani lay claims on governing Kashmir through various religious and political reasons. Pakistan believed that they are entitled to rule or rather govern Kashmir because the highest percentage of the demographic population were Muslims (Ahlawat and Satish 59). The Islamic resurgence groups also made Pakistani think that the division would belong to them overtime. The contiguous geography and the land tenure made the Kashmir division appear to be part of them. The physiographical feature prominent in Kashmir is the double-staircase with most of it facing and ascending towards Pakistani and the small part to India. The majority of the population was also accustomed to Islamic culture and practices. In particular, 77% of the population practiced Islamic (Ahlawat and Satish 59). Thus, the physical geography and its cultural geography made it appear to be more of a Pakistani state, resulting in the unending wars between India and Pakistani. On the other hand, India also claimed that the Kashmir Division belonged to them. Those who practiced Hinduism and Buddhism thought that when the time is right, they would join India. They viewed the delay to join any states as a strategy to buy time and convince the Muslims to enter India.

Moreover, the Kashmir division was part of India long before British colonization. India considers the Instrument of Accession an essential and final document to prove that Kashmir is an integral part of India (Ahlawat and Satish 67). India considers Kashmir as a test of secularism and India. These differing perspectives have led to constant wars that have violated the rights of the people of Kashmir. Additionally, there was the signing of an agreement that allowed free communication and trade between Pakistan and the Kashmir division. However, Pakistan was unable to acquire the Kashmir division through legal means, which has resulted in the use of cold war and violence that have left many homeless and injured. Therefore, the conflict between Pakistan and India is not just about Kashmir's governance but also about Kashmir's geopolitical resources or advantages, which has made it difficult to determine who should govern it.

Geopolitical Significance

Kashmir holds tremendous geopolitical significance to both India and Pakistani. The independent ownership of the division would cause significant loss to the other state. Perhaps the main reason why Pakistani fights for Kashmir is to enjoy the water resources (Kalis and Shaheen 120). Pakistan continually focuses on the importance of water for domestic, agricultural, and industrial uses. They believe that the only way the country can gain agricultural prosperity and ensure its farms produce maximum yield is by gaining control of the Kashmir area that is occupied by India. The several rivers that provide water to Pakistan are from Kashmir. These rivers are; Ravi, Jhelum, Sind, and Chenab. The subsistence farming and irrigation in Pakistani depend on these rivers; thus, they are life-line for Pakistani, and without these rivers, it would turn into a desert.

The Indus Water Treaty 1960 allowed Pakistan to have control over three rivers (Jhelum, Chenab, and Indus) while India controlled rivers Sutlej, Beas, and Ravi (Kalis and Shaheen 120). Pakistan gained 56% of the catchment area, while India gained 31% of the catchment area (Kalis and Shaheen 120). The Silk Route, a significant land interface between China and Pakistan, also passes through Kashmir (Dhall 194). Thus, China also outskirt conflicts with India, and it offers military assistance to Pakistan. The Silk Route helps China to have some control over India, and it also enhances foreign direct investment between China and Pakistan (Dhall 195).

Another geopolitical resource that is located in Kashmir is the Siachen Glacier found at Karakoram Pass. It is a significant boundary that prevents China and Pakistani militants from connecting to Kashmir (Dhall 195). Allowing these forces to access the glacier would undermine the Indian national security in the northern areas. Accessing the Siachen Glacier would result in advantaged armed forces that would be destructive to India and Kashmir division (Dhall 195). Thus, Kashmir has become a war zone due to its physical connection with Silk Route, geographical contiguity, military significance, and water resources. The two independent states should come up with a solution that will ensure the safety of everyone. Pakistani and India should revive their socio-economic relations and develop a solution that is beneficial and acceptable to both of them.

Conclusion

In conclusion, Pakistani and India should come up with a solution to govern Kashmir jointly. They should consider the impacts of their actions on Kashmir's people and cooperate for economic, social, technological, and political prosperity. They can achieve this by neglecting their need to gain control and eliminate their mistrust for each other. Both states should work towards achieving human rights for the people of Kashmir. They can begin by reunifying the divided Kashmir division and cooperate to create strategies that promote peace within the region.

Works Cited

Ahlawat, Dalbir, and Satish Malik. "Kashmir imbroglio: geostrategic and religious imperatives." Journal of Indo-Pacific Affairs .2019. v. 2.2, pp 59-82.

Ahmed, Saifuddin, and Anurug Chakma. "Kashmir Conflict: A Critical Analysis." 2012. V. VI, No. 3, Pp 20-36

Dhall, Pinky. "Strategic Importance of Kashmir: A Conflict between India and Pakistan." Journal of Advances and Scholarly Researches in Allied Education. 2018. V. XIV, pp 190-199

Kalis, Naseer Ahmed, and Shaheen Showkat Dar. "Geo-political Significance of Kashmir: An overview of Indo-Pak Relations." IOSR Journal of Humanities and Social Science. 2013. V.9.2, pp 115-123.

Raina, A. N. "Geography of Jammu & Kashmir State." Radha Krishan Anand & Co., Pacca Danga, Jammu .2002. pp 1-35.